Drapery hook



Feb. 1, 1966 J. E. ZINGERMAN 3,231,952

DRAPERY HOOK Filed Sept. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet //v VENTOI? J05 E Z/A/GfRM/I/V 14 TTOANE 9 United States Patent 3,231,952 DRAPERY HOOK Joe E. Zingerman, 1101 63rd St., Des Moines, Iowa Filed Sept. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 311,678 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-86) This invention relates to a device for supporting drapery, curtains or similar articles on a road and more particularly to a hook unit for attaching the heading of a drapery to a slide member of a traverse rod assembly.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved hook unit which substantially eliminates undesirable traverse rod assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drapery hook units which substantially eliminates undesirable creases and folds in hanging drapery by providing the drapery heading with horizontal and vertical stability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drapery hook unit which ensures outward folding or pleating of the drapery heading when it is moved to a contracted position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a drapery hook unit which is formed from a single piece of wire and is relatively simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

A11 additional object of the invention is to provide a serviceable drapery hook unit which is easily attached to and removed from the heading of drapery.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the b ack of a drapery heading illustrated in an extended position and attached to a traverse rod assembly with the hook units of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the drapery heading of FIG. 1 illustrated in a folded position and attached to a traverse rod assembly with the hook units of this invention;

. FIG. 3 is an enlarged front plan view of a hook unit shown in FIG. 1; j

- FIG. 4 is a side plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a trout plan view of a modification of the hook unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of FIG. 6;

1 FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a front plan view of a pin-up hook unit constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 10 is a side plan view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a front plan view of a modification of the hook unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a side plan view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 1414 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a front plan view of a double prong type hook unit constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 16 is a side plan view of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a front plan view of a modification of the hook unit of FIG. 15

FIG. 19 is a side plan view of FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line 202tl of FIG. 18.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a fragmentary section of a drapery illustrating the drapery heading 26 with its folded over top section 27 stiffened with buckram 28. Vertical pleats 29 divide the heading 26 into separate foldable sections. The drapery 25 is normally supported in a vertical position on a conventional traverse rod assembly 31 which is illustrated as having a plurality of slide members 32 retained in a horizontal track 33.

The drapery heading 26 is positioned adjacent the front side of the track 33 and is connected to the slide members 32 by substantially identical hook units 34. In order to fasten and space the hook units 34 to the drapery heading 26 they are clamped about the folded over section 27 on each side of the seams forming the pleats 29.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drapery 25 is in a closed position which places the drapery heading 26 in a substantially vertical plane adjacent the forward side of the track 33. The drapery heading 26 is held in this expanded position by the hook units 34 which provide the drapery heading with horizontal and vertical stability.

The drapery 25 is illustrated in the open position in FIG. 2. In this position 'the drapery heading 26 is in a contracted position with the separate sections between the pleats 29 folded outwardly or in a direction away from the traverse rod assembly 31. The back portions of the drapery heading 26 adjacent the seams for the pleats 29 engage the traverse rod track 33 and are held in this position by the hook units 34. The hook units 34 have a specific shape which ensures the outward'folding of the drapery heading when the drapery is moved to an open position.

The following description is limited to the specifi shape of a single hook unit 34 which is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 The hook unit 34 is formed from a single piece of relatively stiff wire and has two upwardly projected straight prongs 36 and 37. The upper ends of the prongs 36 and 37 are turned outwardly to form lateral loops 38 and 39. The free ends of the loops are positioned adjacent a straight section of the prongs 36 and 37 so as to provide the upperends of the prongs with smooth curved surfaces. This smooth contour of the ends of the prongs 36 and 37 enables the hook unit to be readily inserted in and removed from the folded top section 27 of the drapery heading.

Formed integral with the lower end of each prong 36 and 37 is a hook member 41 having an inverted V-shaped hook section 42 and a shank section 43. The hook member 41 has two wire sections which are in a side-by-side relation and terminate in a rounded end 44. The hook section 42 is adapted to be positioned in a hole in the slide member 32. The mid-portion of each wire of the shank section 43 is bent into a U-shape to form outwardly extended lateral arms 46 and 47 which project laterally in opposite directions.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lateral arms 46 and 47 are curved in a forward direction with the outward end of the arms positioned forward of the plane of the prongs 36 and 37. This curvature of the arms 46 and 47 results in a slight outward curvature of the drapery head ing 26 adjacent the seams for the pleats 29 and thus prevents the sections of the drapery heading between the pleats 29 from folding toward the traverse rod assembly 31. The specific curvature of the arms 46 and 47 is such that the arms 46 and 47 do not appreciably reduce the straight line position of the drapery heading 26 when in its expanded position and still provide the drapery heading 26 with folding directivity. Thus, when the drapery is moved to an open position the sections of the drapery heading 26 between the pleats 29 will uniformly fold in an outward direction away from thetraverse rod assembly 31.

The hook unit 34 is .placed in an assembled relation With th drapery heading 26 by inserting the prongs 36 and 37 under the folded top section 27 on opposite sides of the seam forming the pleats 29. The hook unit 34 is pulled in an upward direction until the bottom edge of the top section 27 engages the juncture between the bottom of the prongs 36 and 37 and the hook member 41. In this position the lateral arms 46' and 47 are in firm engagement with the back of the top section 27 and inhibit the relativ movement of the hook unit 34 with respect to the drapery heading 26. The lateral arms 46 and 47 function as stabilizing members which horizontally and vertically reinforce the drapery heading 26.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 there is shown a modified hook unit 48 formed from a single piece of relatively stiff wire. The hook unit 48 has a pair of prongs 49 and 51 which project in an upward direction and terminate in looped ends 52 and 53, respectively. Integral with the bottom ends of the prongs 49 and 51 is a hook member 54 having a hook section 56 and a shank section 57. The mid-sections of the two wires which form the shank section 57 have V-shaped lateral arms 58 and 59 which extend outwardly in opposite directions. As shown in FIG. 8, the lateral arms 58 and 59 are curved in a forward direction.

In order to increase the stabilizing and folding action of the lateral arms 58 and 59 on the drapery heading, the mid-section of the prongs 49 and 51 are bent outwardly into a V-shape and are positioned closely adjacent to the forward side of the lateral arms 58 and 59. The arms 61 and 62 have a forward curvature and a lateral extent which is substantially identical with the arms 58 and 59. The lateral arms 61 and 62 on the prongs aid in the stabilizing action of the hook unit 48 on the folded over top section. The drapery heading is also clamped between the lateral arms 58, 61 and 59, 62, respectively.

The hook unit 63 illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 is a pin-up hook formed from a single piece of relatively stilt wire. The hook unit 63 has a straight prong 64 which is insertable into the drapery heading. The upper end of the prong 64 terminates in a point 66 and the lower end is integral with a hook member 67 positioned adjacent the prong 64. The hook member 67 has an inverted V-shaped hook section 68 and a shank section 69. The mid-portion of the wire of the shank section 69 is reversely bent into a figure eight shape to form oppositely extended lateral arms 71 and 72. As shown in FIG. 11, the arms 71 and 72 are curved in a forward direction away from the hook section 68. With the lateral arms 71 and 72 positioned substantially in the mid-section of the hook unit 63 and extended in a direction which is toward a drapery heading positioned between straight prong 64 and the shank section 69, the arms 71 and 72 provide reinforcement for the drapery heading increasing its horizontal and vertical stability.

The hook unit 73 shown in FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 is a pin-up hook similar to the hook of FIG. 9. The hook 73 has an upwardly extended pointed and straight prong 74 and a hook member 76 integrally formed with the prong 74. The hook member 76 has a hook section 77 and a straight shank section 78 positioned in an upward direction adjacent the straight prong 74. Secured to the mid section of th shank section 78 are a pair of semicircular arms 79 and 81 which extend in opposite lateral directions. The arms 79 and 81 are secured at their opposite ends to the straight shank section 78-. As shown in FIG. 14, the lateral arms 79 and 81 are curved in a direction away from the hook section 77 which is in an outward direction when the hook unit 73 is assembled in a drapery head- Referring to FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 there is shown a double pronged h-ook unit 82 which has a pair of prongs 83 and 84 connected at their lower ends by an integral bight section 86. The upper ends of the prongs 83 and 84 have outwardly turned loops 87 and 88 forming smooth contoured surfaces. Positioned rearwardly of the prongs 83 and 84 is a hook member 89 made of a single piece of resilient wire welded or otherwise secured at its lower end to the mid-portion of the bight section 86. As shown in FIG. 16, the lower end of the hook member 89 is formed with an angular section 91 which faces the hook member at its lower end away from the prongs 83 and 84. The upper end of the hook member 89 comprises a hook section 92 which projects inwardly and downwardly. The mid-section of the hook member 89 is reversely bent into a figure eight shape forming oppositely directed lateral arms 93 and 94. As shown in FIG. 17, the arms 93 and 94 are curved in a direction away from the hook section 92 and intersect the plane formed by the prongs 83 and 84. When the hook unit 82 is in an assembled relation with a drapery heading the lateral arms 93 and 94 are in a bearing engagement with the back of the drapery heading which is positioned between the prongs 83 and 84 and the hook member 89.

The hook unit 96 illustrated in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 is a modification of the hook unit 82 shown in FIG. 15. The hook unit 96 has a pair of upwardly extended prongs 97 and 98 which have at their upper ends outwardly turned loops 99 and 101, respectively. The lower sections of the prongs 97 and 98 are integrally joined with a U-shaped bight section 102. A wire hook member 103 is welded or otherwise secured at its lower end to the mid-portion of the bight section 102 and extends in an upward direction adjacent the prongs 97 and 98. The upper end of the hook member 103 has a hook section 104 which extends in an inward and downward direction and is adapted to be retained on a slide member of the traverse rod assembly. The midportion of the hook member 103 is reversely bent into a figure 8 shape to form oppositively extended arms 106 and 107.

As shown in FIG. 20, the arms 106 and 107 extend in oposite lateral directions from the straight section of the hook member 103 and are curved away from the hook section 104. The portions of the prongs 97 and 98 adjacent the arms 106 and 107 are bent into U-shaped arms 108 and 109 which have substantially the same lateral extent and curvature as the arms 106 and 107 of the hook member 103.

When the hook unit 96 is in an asembled relation with the drapery heading the folded over top section and buckram of the heading is positioned betwcn the prongs 97 and 98 and the hook member 103 with the adjacent pair of arms 106 and 108 and 107 and 109 in bearing engagement with the folded over top section of the drapery heading. The clamping action of the respective arms divides the drapery heading with horizontal and vertical stability thereby avoiding the forming of unsightly creases or folds in the draperies. A slight curvature of the arms ensures an outward folding of the drapery heading when it is moved to a contracted position,

The above enumerated drapery hook units are utilized for attaching the heading of a drapery to a slide member of a traverse rod assembly. Each hook unit has a prong means disposed in a substantialy vertical position and engageable with the heading of the drapery so as to fasten the hook unit to the drapery. Secured to the prong means is a hook means provided with a hook section which is connectable with the slide member of the traverse rod assembly. This hook section is connected to the prong means by a shank section which extends in substantially the same direction as the prong means.

In order to provide the drapery heading with vertical and horizontal stability the shank section is formed with lateral arm means which extend in opposite outward directions. The stabilizing effect of the arm means on the drapery heading is enhanced by providing the prong means with arms which are positioned adjacent the arms of the hook means. When the hook member is in an assembled relation with a drapery heading the adjacent arms are positioned on opposite sides of a portion of the drapery heading and are in bearing engagement therewith.

In order to ensure an even and outwardly folding of the drapery heading when the drapery is moved to its open position, the lateral arms of the hook units are provided with a curvature outwardly directed away from the traverse rod assembly.

While there have been shown and described the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that various omissions, substitutions, changes in form and details of the disclosed hook unit may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A drapery hook unit adapted to attach the heading of a pleated drapery to a traverse rod assembly comprising:

(a) prong means disposed substantially parallel with and engageable with the pleat in the heading of the drapery,

(b) hook means having a shank section connected to the lower portion of said prong means and extended adjacent thereto and a hook section directed away from said prong means and connectable with said traverse rod assembly, and

(c) U-shaped arm means integrally formed with and extended laterally from opposite sides of the midportion of the shank section for engagement with the heading held between said prong means and shank section to provide horizontal and vertical stability thereof.

2. A drapery hook unit adapted to attach the pleated heading of a drapery to a traverse rod assembly comprising:

(a) prong means adapted to be connectable with the pleated heading of the drapery,

(b) hook means having a shank section connected to a portion of said prong means and a hook section directed away from said prong means and connectable with said traverse rod assembly, said prong means, shank section, and hook section being posi tioned in a substantially common plane with the shank section adjacent said prong means, and

(0) arm means integral with a mid-portion of said shank section and extended laterally from opposite sides thereof, said arm means curved in a direction away from said hook section so that when the pleated heading is held between said prong means and shank section the heading adjacent the pleat is biased away from the traverse rod assembly.

3. A drapery hook unit adapted to attach a pleated heading of a drapery to a traverse rod assembly comprising:

(a) a substantially straight prong means terminating in a pointed end and adapted to be insertable into the pleated heading,

(b) hook means having a shank section a d a hook section,

(c) said shank section connected to the lower portion of said prong means and extended adjacent thereto,

(d) said hook section directed away from said prong means and connectable with said traverse rod assembly, and

(e) arm means integrally formed with and extended laterally from opposite sides of the mid-portion of the shank section for engagement with the heading of the drapery to provide horizontal and vertical stability thereof,

(f) said arm means curved in a direction away from said hook section so that when the drapery heading is held between said prong means and said shank section the heading engaged by said arm means is biased outwardly of the traverse rod assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,742,561 1/1930 Rumpf et a1. 2484 1,746,232 2/ 1930 Blome 2486 2,592,478 4/1952 Sherman 2486 2,718,923 9/1955 Moser 348 3,072,179 1/1963 Polkosnik 160-348 3,103,247 9/1963 Rosenzweig 160348 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner. 

1. A DRAPERY HOOK UNIT ADAPTED TO ATTACH THE HEADING OF A PLEATED DRAPERY TO A TRAVERSE ROD ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: (A) PRONG MEANS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE PLEAT IN THE HEADING OF THE DRAPERY, (B) HOOK MEANS HAVING A SHANK SECTION CONNECTION TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID PRONG MEANS AND EXTENDED ADJACENT THERETO AND A HOOK SECTION DIRECTED AWAY FROM SAID PRONG MEANS AND CONNECTABLE WITH SAID TRAVERSE ROD ASSEMBLY, AND (C) U-SHAPED ARM MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH AND EXTENDED LATERALLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MIDPORTION OF THE SHANK SECTIONS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HEADING HELD BETWEEN SAID PRONG MEANS AND SHANK SECTION TO PROVIDE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL STABILITY THEREOF. 